After all these years in the coffee industry, one thing I've learned is that there's no such thing as a universally "perfect" cup of coffee. To a tired student, it might be a dark cold brew; to a weekend bruncher, maybe it's a vanilla oat milk latte. It's only "perfect" in the context of the person drinking it—their tastes, their needs, and their environment.
As I've transitioned into the world of Technical Communication and Information Design (TCID), with a focus on User Experience (UX), I've found that this principle translates perfectly.
It's Not About What You Like
In UX Design—whether you specialize in Engineering, Product Design, or Web Development—it is dangerously easy to design for yourself. We often fall into the trap of choosing layouts or workflows that make sense to us. But what feels natural to you might not feel natural to them. Good design should feel intuitive to the end user, not the designer (The Design of Everyday Things). If the design doesn't resonate with the end user, it isn't a successful or inclusive product.
This is where Audience Analysis becomes the "secret syrup" of UX Design. According to UX Matters understanding user goals and behaviors is an indispensable requirement of any design. If you don't know who's drinking the coffee, you can't possibly know what flavors they would like added (UX Matters).
Different People, Different "Flavors"
We see this "flavor profile" shift across different industries for their specific audiences.
In more technical fields like engineering, users often prefer darker backgrounds, cleaner layouts, futuristic colors, and precise, technical language. It's all about efficiency and clarity. On the other hand, a majority of pet companies or lifestyle brands lean into softer colors—blues, greens, yellows—with more playful fonts and language that feels warm, welcoming, and inclusive.
Neither style is "better". They're just designed for different audiences. As Figma notes, creating user personas and practicing audience awareness ensures designs are ones "that their target audience will return to again and again" (Figma).
Finding the "Perfect Cup"
Designing a good user experience is a lot like making coffee for someone else. You have to be willing to set aside your own personal preferences to give the end user what they actually want and need.
There's no one-size-fits-all solution—just the right solution for the right audience.
Whether it's a technical interface for an engineer or a vibrant site for a pet brand, the goal is the same: the design should feel like it was made specifically for the audience using it. When you prioritize audience analysis over your own assumptions, you create products that actually work.
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